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NORTH Melbourne coach Brad Scott insists the rebuilding plans put in place when he took over at Aegis Park in late 2009 remain on track despite external criticism of the Kangaroos' indifferent start to the season.
After consecutive ninth-place finishes in Scott's first two seasons at the helm, North looked on track to play finals this year when it played an exciting brand of fast-moving football to beat Geelong by 17 points in round three.
But since then the Kangaroos have won just three of eight matches, all against bottom-four teams (Gold Coast twice and Brisbane Lions).
Although many in the media have cooled on North's emerging playing list, Scott said the club was bullish about its future prospects.
"There's no doubt there are some things we'd like to be better at at the moment, but it is an evolving process and we're unwavering in the fact we believe we're on the right path," Scott said at Aegis Park on Thursday.
"There's pressure on everyone in competitive AFL footy every day. That pressure comes whether you're winning or losing. We've just got to stay the course and stick on the path that we set two and a half years ago.
"We're on that path and we're really confident. People's opinions outside that are just that, they're their opinions."
Asked whether North's progression had been slower than he'd expected, Scott said his team had proved against Geelong it was "a very capable side" at its best but had to reduce the gap between that type of form and its worst performances.
"If we were sitting here saying, 'At our best we're an pretty ordinary side' then we'd have something to worry about," he said.
Scott said he was content with the development of his youngsters, saying second-year speedster Shaun Atley had been "a revelation" at half-back this season.
But he acknowledged it had been North's two most senior players, Brent Harvey and Drew Petrie, who had stood up to get the Kangaroos over the line in a tense finish against Gold Coast last Saturday night.
"Our senior players have carried the load and our younger players we firmly believe are on the right track, but to match it with the elite sides of the competition … we definitely have to be more consistent in our performance," Scott said.
"No doubt, we're like any emerging side, we're looking for our young players to take the next step and that's an evolving process."
Scott said North's opponent this round, second-placed Adelaide, had proved it was an elite team this season, noting it was ranked No. 1 in the competition for clearances and contested possessions.
But Scott said North was looking forward to taking on the Crows, in particularly their emerging young midfield headed by "elite" on-ballers Patrick Dangerfield and Scott Thompson, and their twin forward-line towers, Kurt Tippett and Taylor Walker.
Scott said he was confident his midfield could "really take it up" to Adelaide at stoppages, which would be important in making the defence's job easier against Walker, Tippett and small forwards Ian Callinan and Jason Porplyzia.
He said North would consider bolstering its defence with another key defender to tackle the challenge of manning the 202cm Tippett, with Luke and Cameron Delaney possible inclusions.
Scott also said another key-position player in Lachie Hansen was a chance to play his first game of the season after making an impressive return from suspension in the VFL last weekend.
Nick Bowen covers North Melbourne news for AFL Media. Follow him on Twitter: @AFL_Nick
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North Melbourne v Adelaide Crows
Sunday June 24, 2012 - 4.40pm
Etihad Stadium
Gates open at 3pm.
